Simulated Fire Apparatus For Chimneys

ABSTRACT

A moveable or relocatable structure for providing an optical effect includes casing and an apparatus for providing an optical effect mounted in the casing. The apparatus is preferably a flame effect fire. The apparatus is mounted in an aperture of the casing and a gap is defined between the apparatus and the casing front wall to define an air flow path for entry of air into the apparatus, for example to supply a heater. A frame is provided in front of the apparatus to shield the gap from the normal view of a user. The frame is spaced forwardly from the apparatus and the casing front wall to allow an air flow path between the frame and the casing front wall which communicates with the gap defined between the apparatus and the casing front wall.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to electric fires, electric heating appliances and in particular to electric fires including burning fuel and/flame simulating arrangements. The fires of the invention will normally, but not essentially in all cases, include a heat source. The simulated fire apparatus of the invention are portable, or at least re-locatable.

The prior art is replete with electric fires which include means for simulating flames and/or burning fuel. Typically such fires include a simulated fuel bed in the form of a plastic moulding shaped and coloured to represent burning fuel and illuminated from below to provide an impression of glowing embers. Individual real or simulated fuel pieces may be mounted on the fuel bed. In other variations, the fuel bed may comprise an arrangement of pebbles or the like, or glass beads. A simulated flame effect will typically comprise a viewing screen, a light source and means disposed in the path of light from the light source to the viewing screen for modifying the light from the light source to produce an image resembling flames on the viewing screen. The means for modifying the light may include stationary reflectors and moving reflectors. One example of a moving reflector comprises, strips, sheets or flags of reflecting or partially reflecting material such as silk, or polymeric materials having similar properties. The silk material is loosely suspended in an air flow, the air flow causing the silk material to billow. The air flow is provided by a fan or blower mounted within the housing of the fire. Light is reflected from the billowing silk material onto the viewing screen, giving the illusion of flames.

Where provided, the heat source in electric fires of this sort is typically a convection heater in which a fan or blower is used to move air over a heating element, the resulting heated air then being expelled from the housing of the fire to heat the room in which the fire is located.

Thus, both of the above constructions require the housing of the fire to have at least one air inlet in the housing of the fire, and an air outlet.

Conventional electric fuel/flame effect fires have been constructed to resemble free-standing floor mounted stoves or to be inserted into a conventional fireplace cavity, also floor mounted. However, these constructions are not always suitable and consumer preferences have lead to, for example, wall mounted fires. This is especially so in homes of more modern construction where a traditional fireplace is not present.

The present invention seeks to build on this trend by providing a fuel and/or flame effect fire, which may, of itself, be substantially conventional, mounted in a casing. The casing may stand freely, typically against the wall of room, or may be secured to the wall. An air flow path is provided from the exterior of the casing into the interior of the fire to provide air for the flame effect and/or heating means.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to the invention there is provided a moveable structure operative to provide an optical effect comprising:

a casing including a front casing wall having an aperture defined by internal marginal edges of said front casing wall; an apparatus for providing an optical effect comprising:

-   -   a housing having external walls defining an internal space         therein;     -   a front screen defining at least part of a front wall of the         housing; and     -   means for producing an optical effect disposed within said         internal space, the housing being mounted in the casing and         located in the aperture and said optical effect being         operationally observable through said aperture and said front         screen;         a frame having a frame front surface arranged forwardly of said         casing front wall and located to prevent a user from observing,         in normal use, said aperture-defining marginal edges,         wherein         an air flow path is provided for supplying air from the exterior         into said internal space, said air flow path passing between at         least a part of said frame and the front casing wall and through         an air flow gap defined between at least a portion of said         aperture defining marginal edge and the housing.

In a preferred embodiment said air flow gap has a width of from about 2 mm to about 10 mm, in particular about 4 mm to 6 mm and especially about 5 mm.

Preferably, the casing comprises a top wall and side walls extending rearwardly, and preferably substantially perpendicularly, with respect to said front casing wall. In variations, the side walls may curve progressively into the front casing wall or a major portion of the front wall (excluding that part above and below the apparatus) may be curved so that the side walls effectively become indistinguishable from the front wall. Thus, when the casing is placed against a plane surface, typically the wall of a room, the apparatus for producing an optical effect is visible only through the aperture. The front, top and side walls may be plain or may include ornamentation or decoration.

Preferably the casing further comprises at least one support member attached to the casing walls by means of which the apparatus is supported. The apparatus may be supported by any suitable means. For example, the apparatus may sit directly on a support member, may be attached to a support member by brackets or other suitable fixings or may be suspended from generally horizontal or vertical support members.

In one variation of the invention the frame is attached to the housing. Alternatively, the frame may be attached to the casing.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the apparatus for providing an optical effect is an electric fire.

Preferably the apparatus for providing an optical effect is a simulated fuel and/or flame effect electric fire and the means for producing an optical effect comprises fuel and/or flame simulating means.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the electric fire comprises an electric heating element and a fan operative to draw air into the housing via said air flow path and to move air over the heating element.

In addition to the above heating element and fan, or in the absence of a heating element and fan, the electric fire includes a simulated flame effect may include one or more pieces of suspended reflective material and a fan operative to draw air into the housing via said air flow path and to move air over the said one or more pieces of material to cause the piece or pieces of material to move. Although the presence of a heating means is preferred, in modern houses, offices and the like central heating systems are commonly provided so that it is not essential for the apparatus and structure of the invention to provide heat. The heat output of the apparatus of the invention may be supplementary to a primary heating source in a room, such as a central heating radiator, or may itself be the primary heating source.

Preferably a gap is defined between the housing and the housing front wall and an air flow path is provided through said gap for expelling air from said housing. Thus the gap provides a means for expelling heated air to heat a room.

Preferably at least part of the front wall of the housing is removably mounted on the housing. In this way, access can be provided to the interior of the housing, for example in order to change the light bulbs used to illuminate a simulated fuel bed. Preferably said removable part includes the front screen.

Preferably the electric fire is suitable for direct installation in a location of use, absent the casing. Thus, the structure of the invention may employ a flame effect fire otherwise intended for free-standing use in a fireplace, or a free-standing flame effect stove, without modification, or any significant modification, of the fire or stove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will be made, by way of example only to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic rear plan view of a structure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front plan view of a structure according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross section of a structure according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows schematically a typical example of a flame simulating means suitable for use in a flame effect fire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, the structure 10 of the invention comprises a casing 12 comprising a front wall 14, side walls 16 a, 16 b and top wall 18. An apparatus for providing an optical effect 20 is mounted within the casing 12. The apparatus 20 is preferably a flame and/or fuel effect fire and the term “flame effect fire” will be used hereinafter to refer to the apparatus 20. It will be appreciated that although a flame and/or burning fuel simulation is much preferred in the context of the present invention, other aesthetically pleasing, stimulating, relaxing or interesting optical effects are not precluded.

The front casing wall 14 includes an aperture 22 in which the flame effect fire 20 is arranged. Typically, the front face of the flame effect fire 20 stands in the aperture 22 approximately co-planar with adjacent parts of the front face of the front casing wall 14. Thus, the flame effect fire 20 is visible only through the aperture 22, and substantially only the front face of the flame effect fire is visible.

The size and detailed shape of the casing 12 may be determined by the designer without particular limitation, provided that the flame effect fire 20 can be mounted in the casing 12 such that substantially only its front face is visible, through the aperture 22, the remainder being hidden by the casing 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, the casing 12 includes substantially vertical cross-members 24 a, 24 b and substantially horizontal cross-members 26 a, 26 b which serve to add strength to the casing 12 and which may provide the required support for the flame effect fire 20. For example, the flame effect fire 20 may include feet 28 which sit on cross-member 26 a. Alternatively, one or more of the members 24, 26 may include cut-outs in which parts of the flame effect fire 20 may be seated, or brackets or other suitable fixings may be provided to attach the flame effect fire 20 to the cross-members 24. 24, and/or to one or more of the walls 14, 16, 18 of the casing 12.

The structure 10 of the invention further comprises a frame 30. A major purpose of the frame 30 is to mask the edges 14 a, 14 b, 14 c of the front wall 14 which define the aperture 22 so that the edges 14 a, 14 b, 14 c are not visible to a user in normal use. The frame 30 may similarly mask the front edges of the housing of the flame effect fire 20. The shape of the frame 30 is, at least in part, determined by the shape of the aperture 22 and of the flame effect fire 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the external shape of frame 30 is rectangular, with the internal edges 30 a of the frame defining a rectangular aperture through which the flame effect fire 20 can be seen.

The flame effect fire 20 comprises a housing 32 defined by top, bottom and side walls 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d respectively and most preferably a rear wall 32 e. Disposed within the housing are a heating element 34 and a fan or blower 36. The blower 36 moves air over the heating element 34 so that the air is heated and the thus heated air is expelled from the housing to heat the room in which the structure 10 of the invention is located.

Clearly, in order to provide a flow of heater air from the flame effect fire 20, a flow of cooler air into the housing 32 is required. In conventional free standing flame effect fires the front of the fire may be provided with a concealed air entry grille or the like, or, more commonly, air entry grilles or apertures are provided at the rear, underside, or sides of the fire. Where a flame effect fire is mounted in a casing directly surrounding the fire, the latter air flow paths are blocked as there is no air flow path from in front of the flame effect fire to the apertures at the rear, undersides or sides of the fire. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, in the structure of the present invention, an air flow path is provided from the exterior of the structure 10 to concealed air entry apertures at the sides, rear or underside of the housing 32 of the fire 20. In particular, a gap 44 is defined between the edges of front wall 14 defining the aperture 22 and the housing 32 of the flame effect fire 20. Air passes through the gap to reach air entry apertures in the housing shown schematically as dotted lines 46.

Frame 30 is located on the housing 32 or on the casing front wall 14 such that the aperture 22 is not visible to a user in normal use, that is, when the user is sitting or standing in front of the flame effect fire 20. The frame is attached, to the housing 32 or the casing 12 in such a way that it stands forward from, i.e. is spaced apart from, the casing front wall 14. This provides for an air flow path segment (indicated by arrow A) between the rear of the frame 30 and the front face of the casing front wall 14 which communicates with the air flow path through the gap 44. Thus an air flow path is provided from the exterior of the fire at the front thereof, passing behind the frame 30, through the gap 44 and into the housing 32 at one or more suitable apertures 46. The gap 44 need not extend around the whole of the aperture 22 (that is, around the whole of the housing 32) and an air flow path segment between the frame 30 and the casing front wall 14 need not be provided around the whole extent of the frame, provided that a an air flow path is provided from the exterior to the housing and provided that a sufficiently large flow of air can be achieved.

A particular advantage of the structure of the invention is that a standard flame effect fire, e.g. from an existing product range, can be incorporated in the casing without significant modification. Thus, an air flow path is provided to existing air entry apertures without the need re-design the fire to relocate such apertures.

The front wall 32 f of housing 32 consists, at least in part, of a screen 40 though which a means for providing an optical effect (shown schematically at 38) is viewable. In the preferred embodiments the means 38 is a means for simulating flames and burning fuel indicated at 42 in FIG. 2. The means 42 are illustrated by way of example only as including logs as the fuel source, but various other forms such as coals are equally suitable. Screen 40 may include opaque regions, for example to obscure the heating element 34 and blower 36 and working mechanical or electrical parts of the flame simulating means 38. In a preferred embodiment, the screen 40 is mounted in a supporting border 48 which may be of metal or other material, preferably to match or complement the frame 30. In a preferred arrangement, the screen 40 and border 48 form a removable unit which can be lifted away from the housing away from the housing 32 by a user, for example to gain access to the flame simulating means 38, such as when a light bulb must be replaced. It is also particularly preferred that a gap or slot is provided between the supporting border 48 and the housing 32 through which heated air may exit the housing, as indicated by arrow H. Where the screen 40 and supporting border 48 do not comprise the whole of the front wall of the fire 20, a corresponding gap may be provided between the supporting border 48 and an adjacent part of said front wall.

A typical example of a flame simulating means 38 suitable for use in the flame effect fire 20 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The means 38 comprises a simulated fuel bed 52 which may be a translucent or partially translucent plastic moulding shaped and coloured to resemble embers and fuel pieces such as coal or logs. Additionally, or alternatively, discrete fuel pieces may be mounted on the fuel bed 52. The fuel bed 52 is illuminated from below by a light source 50 to give the impression of burning fuel. For the simulation of flames, one or more strips 58 of reflective or partially reflective material are loosely suspended behind a viewing screen 60. The strips 58 may be of silk or silk-like materials. A fan or blower 56 provides an air flow over the strips 58 which causes them to move in a pseudo-random manner. Light from the light source 50 is reflected by the strips 58 onto the viewing screen 60. The viewing screen 60 is partially diffusing of light and partially transmitting of light. For example, the rear surface 60 b of the viewing screen 60 may be etched or abraded. An image resembling flames can thereby be observed in the viewing screen 60. An additional reflector 62 which may be non-planar and may include reflective and non-reflective regions may be mounted at the rear of the means 38 to enhance the flame simulating effect. The front surface 60 a of the viewing screen 60 may be made partially reflective so that an image of the fuel bed may be seen in the viewing screen 60. In this way, the image of flames seen in the viewing screen appears to be between the fuel bed 52 and its reflection. In other words, the fuel bed appears to have greater depth, with the flames emerging from the middle of it.

It will readily be appreciated that the above described flame simulating means 38 (unless provided in a sealed unit with re-circulating air) requires an air input and an air output. These are shown schematically in FIG. 4 as arrows I and O respectively. Thus, even in the absence of a heating arrangement, and air flow into housing 32 of flame effect fire 20 must be provided. The structure of the present invention provides for such an air flow, which may serve the heating arrangement alone, the flame simulating means alone, or both the flame simulating means and the heating arrangement.

By incorporating a flame effect fire in a structure as defined in the invention, the flame effect fire becomes moveable, or at least re-locatable. Thus, the casing including the flame effect fire may be mounted against a wall where there is no existing fireplace or flue and secured thereto to give the impression of a fireplace, fire surround, mantelpiece and so on. Alternatively the casing including the flame effect fire may alternatively be entirely free standing. The casing including the flame effect fire may be permanently installed in its location of use, if desired, or may be moved to a new location as and when required.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of the words, for example “comprising” and “comprises”, means “including but not limited to”, and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. 

1. A moveable structure operative to provide an optical effect comprising: a casing including a front casing wall having an aperture defined by internal marginal edges of said front casing wall; an apparatus for providing an optical effect comprising: a housing having external walls defining an internal space therein; a front screen defining at least part of a front wall of the housing; and means for producing an optical effect disposed within said internal space, the housing being mounted in the casing and located in the aperture and said optical effect being operationally observable through said aperture and said front screen; a frame having a frame front surface arranged forwardly of said casing front wall and located to prevent a user from observing, in normal use, said aperture-defining marginal edges, wherein an air flow path is provided for supplying air from the exterior into said internal space, said air flow path passing between at least a part of said frame and the front casing wall and through an air flow gap defined between at least a portion of said aperture defining marginal edge and the housing.
 2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said air flow gap has a width of from about 2 mm to about 10 mm.
 3. A structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said air flow gap has a width of about 5 mm.
 4. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the casing comprises a top wall and side walls extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to said casing front wall.
 5. A structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the casing further comprises at least one support member attached to the casing walls by means of which the housing is supported.
 6. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame is attached to the housing.
 7. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame is attached to the casing.
 8. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus for providing an optical effect is an electric fire.
 9. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus for providing an optical effect is a simulated fuel and/or flame effect electric fire and the means for producing an optical effect comprises fuel and/or flame simulating means.
 10. A structure as claimed in claim 8 wherein the electric fire comprises an electric heating element and a fan operative to draw air into the housing via said air flow path and to move air over the heating element.
 11. A structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the electric fire includes a simulated flame effect including one or more pieces of suspended reflective material and a fan operative to draw air into the housing via said air flow path and to move air over the said one or more pieces of material to cause the piece or pieces of material to move.
 12. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein a gap is defined between the housing and the housing front wall and an air flow path is provided through said gap for expelling air from said housing.
 13. A structure as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least part of the front wall of the housing is removably mounted on the housing.
 14. A structure as claimed in claim 13 wherein said removable part includes the front screen.
 15. A structure as claimed in claim 8 wherein the electric fire is suitable for direct installation in a location of use, absent the casing.
 16. (canceled) 